Method of Combining Image Files and Other Files

ABSTRACT

A method and system for combining, communicating, storing and/or separating image data and non-image data. The method involves a computer programmed to identify an end-of-file (EOF) marker of an image file, and being programmed to add the non-image data to the image file after the EOF marker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to computer data storage. Moreparticularly the present invention relates to the combination of animage file and another non-image file into a single combined file.

2. Description of Related Art

Image files are becoming increasingly popular media to share pictures oncomputers, over the internet or other networks, and are viewed on anumber of different computing devices. As network bandwidth, computerstorage, and mobile computing increases, image file sharing has seenexponential growth. With such increases in image file sharing, there isa growing desire to add other elements to image files such as text,audio, and the like.

However, one of the problems associated with storing application data inan image file such as a JPEG file is that the application data cannotcontain JPEG or other image marker codes. In some instances, decoderscan mistake application data as image data and cause irrecoverablefailure of the decoding process and the file may not be useable.

Techniques exist for associating non-JPEG data with JPEG files. Forexample, users wishing to create digital images with sound can create aseparate audio, e.g. a .wav, file along side their image file. However,even with the advanced, error-correcting communication networks thatexist today, having a separate file increases the possibility of filecorruption, separation, loss, or deletion during transmission andstorage.

Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for storing non-imagedata along with image data in a single, transmittable file that does notalter the image file data structure. A need also exists for a system andmethod for presenting the single combined file without separation of thefiles therein. A further need exists for returning the image andnon-image data to their original, separated state for use with anapplication program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases,interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem,and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.

In one aspect, a method of combining an image file with a non image fileis provided. The method may begin with identifying an image file andnon-image file to be combined. Once identified, a computer may read theimage file to identify the end-of-file marker of the file. Onceidentified, the computer may write or otherwise attach the non-imagefile data immediately after the end-of-file marker, thereby forming asingle file comprising image and non-image data.

In another aspect, a method of presenting a combined image and non-imagedata file is provided. The method may begin by a computer receiving acombined data file having both image data and non-image data, thenon-image data being written to the combined data file immediately afteran end-of-file marker of the image data. The computer may then read thecombined file to identify the position of the end-of-file marker of theimage file. The data read before the end-of-file marker being identifiedas an image file. The computer may then read the combined fileimmediately after the end-of-file marker until the end of the file. Thedata read immediately after the end-of-file marker being identified as anon-image file. The computer may then be configured to present theidentified image file data and the identified non-image file data to auser.

In yet another aspect, a method of presenting a combined image andnon-image data file is provided. The method may begin by a computerreceiving a combined data file having both image data and non-imagedata, the non-image data being written to the combined data fileimmediately after an end-of-file marker of the image data. The computermay then read the combined file to identify the position of theend-of-file marker of the image file. The data read before theend-of-file marker being identified as an image file. The computer maythen read the combined file immediately after the end-of-file markeruntil the end of the file. The data read immediately after theend-of-file marker being identified as a non-image file. The computermay then be configured to save the identified image file data and theidentified non-image file data to a computer's file system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention isshown that combines image and non-image data, and utilization thecombined file.

FIG. 2 provides a flow chart of an embodiment of creating the combinedimage and non-image file.

FIG. 3 provides a typical JPEG image and the file hexadecimalrepresentation.

FIG. 4 provides a data file container comprising an audio data file anda non-JPEG data file in hexadecimal format.

FIG. 5 provides a view of combined data file and the JPEG image thatrelates to it.

FIG. 6 provides a flow chart of separation of the combined file into itscomponent data files.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and does not represent the only forms in which thepresent invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Adding non-image data into an image file offers many practical uses. Forexample, still images or pictures may be transmitted over the internetwith an accompanying audio file, which may represent the sound in theenvironment where the image was taken, a person's voice, or musiccreated on a computer or purchased on the internet. This may allowindividuals to share pictures with the sounds of a sporting event, achild's first words, a musical passage that communicates something aboutthe picture, consumer packaged goods companies (CPG) can transmitpictures of their products with a commercial message and many otheruses.

Generally, the present invention concerns a method and system forcombining, communicating, storing and/or separating image data andnon-image data. The method involves a computer programmed to identify anend-of-file (EOF) marker of an image file, and being programmed to addthe non-image data to the image file after the EOF marker. Oncecombined, the image file and non-image data are saved as a single file.The file may then be sent, stored, accessed, and the like as if it wereany other file. Further, additional data may be added to the combinedfile to combine three or more sets of data. While the disclosure hereinrefers to a combination of image and non-image files, it should beunderstood that the methods herein may be applied to the combination ofany different file types as long as one of the files has an EOF marker.

The image files contemplated herein may be any digital image formatcapable of being interpreted by a computer or computing device. Examplesof image files contemplated herein include, but are not limited to JPEG,GIF, TIFF, PNG, Bitmap, RAW, PNM, WEBP, and the like.

The non-image data files contemplated herein may be any digitalnon-image files. Examples of non-image data files may include textfiles, word processing files, audio files such as MP3, MP4 AIFF, WAV,etc., movie files, and the like.

The non-image data that may be combined with the image files may be anynon-image, computer-readable data. Examples of non-image data mayinclude audio data files, text data files, word processing document datafiles, email message data files, text message data files, social postingdata files, chat transcript data files, location data, spreadsheet datafiles, account information data, document data files, and the like.

The computer or computing devices contemplated herein may include, butare not limited to, desktop computers, laptop computers, tabletcomputers, handheld computers, smart phones and other cellular phones,and similar internet enabled mobile devices, digital cameras, acustomized computing device configured to specifically carry out themethods contemplated in this disclosure, and the like.

Initially the computer may be programmed to identify two (or more)files: an image data file, and a non-image data file. The computer maythen be programmed to identify the files as such, and identify that theymay be combined. When instructed to combine the image data file andnon-image data file, the computer may be programmed to begin reading theimage file, starting at a beginning of the image file, and reading untilthe computer encounters an EOF marker. EOF markers are hexadecimal tagsthat indicate an end of file. The EOF marker may vary for different filetypes, however all image data file formats contain an EOF marker. Thecomputer is programmed to identify the end of file marker of the imagedata file, and may be further programmed to identify new EOF markers asdifferent image file types are developed.

Once the EOF marker is identified, the computer may be programmed toattach the non-image data file, beginning immediately after the imagefile EOF marker. This attaching may be performed in any manner. In oneembodiment, the non-image file data is written byte by byte after theEOF until the entire non-image file is written after the EOF. Byattaching the non-image data to the end of the image data file, thenon-image data file does not change or affect the image file data. Oncethe attachment is completed, the computer has formed a single filecomprising image data and non-image data.

Because the image data file is not affected by the addition of thenon-image data file, a standard image file reader such as Preview®,Paint®, Microsoft® PowerPoint®, or a web browser, may read the attachedfile as if it were simply an image file. Once the EOF marker is reached,the image file reader stops, and ignores the non-image data file.

Further, if the computer is specifically programmed to identify andpresent the image file as well as the non-image data file, it may readand display both the image data file and non-image data file. In oneembodiment, the computer may be programmed to read and present the imagedata file by reading the combined file from the beginning until itreaches the EOF marker. The computer may be further programmed to readand present the non-image data file by reading the combined fileimmediately after the EOF of the image data file until it reaches theend of the combined file. It should be understood that the computer maybe programmed to display the multiple files without separation intoseparate files, or the computer may be programmed to separate the filesand then present them.

Once the single file is created combining the image data file andnon-image data file, it may be sent, manipulated and stored as if itwere any other file.

In a further embodiment, additional non-image data files may be added,allowing the single file to contain an image data file and multiplenon-image data files. In one embodiment, the multiple non-image filesmay be combined in a data file container such as an archive, then thedata file container may be attached to the image file as describedabove. These image and non-image data file combinations are not limitedby number, file type, or size, except by the bandwidth and storagelimitations of the computing device or devices involved.

In another embodiment, a single non-image file may be placed into a filecontainer, in the same way that multiple files may be combined into afile container. This embodiment may provide greater file stability,ensures that all required non-image file bytes are present, and mayallow for password protection.

In a further embodiment, the computer may be programmed to separate thesingle file into its image data and non-image data. In this embodiment,the computer may be configured to read and identify the image data fileby starting at the beginning of the combined file, and reading until itreaches the EOF marker of the image data file. This read data may beextracted and saved as the appropriate image data file. Next, thecomputer may be programmed to read the combined file startingimmediately after the EOF marker until it reaches the end of thecombined file. This read data may be extracted and saved as theappropriate non-image data file. The computer may further be programmedto identify the file type of the image and non-image data files, andprogrammed to save the files as the identified file types.

The combined file as created is distinguished from a video file in anumber of ways. In particular, a video file has multiple images trackedwith an audio track, and the two are associated with each other. Bycontrast, the combined file contemplated herein comprises a singleimage-data file and a distinct non-image data file. These files arecombined, but not tied together. Moreover, the single image remains asan image file, even when combined, and can be displayed by image filereaders. By contrast, a video file is a video file, and must bedisplayed by video file readers.

Further, the combined file is distinct from other image and non-imagefile combination methods because the original image file remainsunchanged—preventing any conflict with the image data. Other combinationmethods utilize available space within an image file to store non-imagedata. For example, if non-image data is stored in an EXIF segment of aJPEG data file, any data already stored in the EXIF segment is lost. Bycontrast, the present combination method adds non-image data after theimage file EOF marker, leaving the image file unchanged. Further,traditional archiving is distinct from the present invention because, asnoted above, files are compiled into a distinct data file container, andonly after de-compiling can the files contained therein be accessed bythe computer programs designed to present the various file types. Byleaving the image file unchanged, the combined file is less prone tocorruption and loss of data, and is also reliably accessible to standardimage viewing programs.

In one embodiment, a mobile computing device may be used to create afile that combines an image data file and an audio data file. The mobilecomputing device may be configured to capture a picture and store it asan image data file. The mobile computing device may also be configuredto record and store an audio recording as an audio data file. The mobilecomputing device may then combine the image data file and audio datafile allowing them to be transmitted together in a single file usingmethods described above. After combination, the mobile computing devicemay use a wireless network connection to transmit the combined datafile. In one embodiment, a receiving computing device may use an imagefile viewer that will allow it to present the image data withoutseparation of the files. In addition, the receiving computing device maybe specifically programmed to present the image, and also present theaudio file simultaneously by reading and presenting both the image dataand audio data from the combined file. In another embodiment, thecomputing device may separate the image file and non-image file, savethe files separately, and then present both files using a computerconfigured to present both, or programmed to present each using separateprograms.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a flowchart of an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown that combines image and non-image data, andutilization the combined file is shown. Image data 22 is shown invarying embodiments accessible to the computer 100 such as image datarecorded using the computer 106, image data contained in existing imagefiles stored on the computer 104, or image data files created by otherusers or systems that is received by the computer 102. Image data 22 mayinclude photographs, computer-generated or hand-created illustrations,computer generated imagery, technical or medical imagery, individualframes from a video data file, screen captures, webcam images etc. Theimage data 22 may be in any digital format.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the non-image data 24 to becombined with image data comprises audio files as shown in FIG. 1. Theaudio files are shown in varying embodiments such as audio data recordedusing the computer 108, audio data contained in existing audio filesstored on computer 110, or audio data files created by other systems andreceived by the computer 112. For example audio data files from othersystems could include music or other audio files purchased from awebsite and transmitted to and stored on computer 100. In anotherembodiment of the present invention application data 26 comprises other,non-image files 114. Other non-image data 26 may include word processingdocuments, email messages, text messages, social postings, chattranscripts, location data, spreadsheets, account information, etc. Thenon-image data 24 and 26 may be in any digital format.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the computer 100 used to gather theimage data and application data is shown as a mobile device containing adigital camera and a digital audio recorder. Examples of a digital audiorecorder may include devices such as a microphone, processor, memory,file storage, data transmission and receiving, visual display screen andkeyboard.

Once image file 22, audio file 24 and/or other non-image data 26 inputsare obtained, input files are converted to a single data file 34 and thefile is stored on the computer 100. In embodiments having more than oneitem of non-image data, as shown in FIG. 1, the audio data 24 andnon-image data 26 are initially combined into a data file container 32.Next the computer 100 reads the image data file 22 until it reaches anend of file marker. The data file container 32 is then attachedimmediately after the image data file's 22 end of file marker, therebycreating a combined file 34. The data file can be viewed on the mobilecomputer device 100, or transmitted 40 to other remote viewing devicesusing a transmission medium, to specialized storage devices in thecloud, social network sharing platforms, websites designed for receivingand sharing image data or other storage systems. It should be understoodthat the method may be performed with just a single non-image data file,or that a plurality of files may be added to the data file container 32and then appended to the image data file 22 creating the combined file34.

FIG. 2 provides a flow chart of an embodiment of creating the combinedimage and non-image file. Non-image data 20 comprised of audio data file24 and other non-image data file 26 are combined into a data filecontainer 32 using, for example, standard archiving technology in oneembodiment. The computer is programmed to create a digital containerinto which the non-image data files 24, 26 are stored. In one use of thepresent invention, the files inside the file container are compressed toconserve data storage, however, compression is not essential. In one useof the present invention the file container is not password protected orotherwise encrypted, though in other uses of the present invention thesesecurity measures may be necessary.

After the data is placed in the data file container 32 it is combinedwith the image data file 22 to create a single file containing all ofthe data 34, as discussed above.

FIG. 3 shows a typical JPEG image and the file hexadecimalrepresentation. The end of a JPEG file is always represented by thehexadecimal 0.times.FF followed by hexadecimal 0.times.D9. This is theJPEG EOF marker.

FIG. 4 shows a data file container comprising an audio data file and anon-JPEG data file in hexadecimal format. This data is representative ofa data file container 32 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 provides a view of combined data file and the JPEG image thatrelates to it. The two files are joined by the computer 100 with thefirst byte of the data file container written immediately following theJPEG file EOF marker 0xD9. The non-JPEG data file is shown in greyhighlight. The cat image shown is how the combined file is displayed ina normal JPEG reader. Non-image file data is ignored, even though it isstored within the single combined file. The combined file is then savedin the computer 100 file system. Once the data has been combined into asingle file the file is ready for transmission to other users or remoteviewing devices.

FIG. 6 provides a flow chart of separation of the combined file into itscomponent data files. The combined file 34 is decoded 36 by the computerto provide the image file 22, the audio data file 24 and the othernon-image data file 26. These files are available for use by anapplication 38. In one embodiment, the combination file 34 is decoded bythe computer reading from the beginning of the file until it reaches theimage file EOF marker. At that point it knows that the data read beforeit is an image file, and saves that image file separately. The computeris then programmed to extract the remainder of the combined file 34 as adata file container 32. Further the computer then extracts the contentsof the data file container 32 into its various components. In theembodiment shown, the data file container 32 is extracted into an audiodata file, and another non-image data file. These three files 22, 24,and 26 may then be read and presented by application 38.

The following are just some of the practical applications forembodiments combining audio or other non-image data with image data.With the audio file, still pictures may be displayed along with aperson's voice, the sound of the moment or a piece of music on a mobilecomputing device or desktop computer. With still pictures and audiofiles combined into a single image file, all of the data is transportedtogether and is playable on demand.

In another embodiment, individuals can use the audio file to tell astory about the photo, sing a song, capture the sounds of a sportingevent, share a secret, include a favorite piece of music, and preservethe moment forever.

Because all of the data is transported together, the combined file canbe efficiently and reliably shared through email and SMS messages,posted to social networking and photo sharing websites, attached toonline chats, or stored for safekeeping in cloud-based storagefacilities.

In still another embodiment, advertisers can use the combined data filesto deliver promotional or informational messages with a still image andaudio. Politicians may share their speeches, messages or solicitations,and celebrities can communicate with their followers with the experienceof sound and photography.

In embodiments combining text file non-image files with image files, thetext files can provide tagging information, promotional coupons, privatemessages, or subtitles for users with hearing disabilities.

While several variations of the present invention have been illustratedby way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparentthat further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scopeof the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, itis to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptationsare within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and areinclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of combining an image file with anon-image file comprising the steps of: identifying an image fileaccessible to a computer; identifying a non-image file accessible to thecomputer; reading the image file using the computer, using the computerto identify an end-of-file marker of the image file; attaching thenon-image file to the image file using the computer by writing a data ofthe non-image file immediately after the end-of-file marker of the imagefile, thereby creating a combined image and non-image data file; savingthe combined image and non-image data file to a file system of thecomputer.
 2. The method of combining an image file with a non-image fileof claim 1 further comprising the step of reading the combined image andnon-image data file using a computer programmed configured to displayimage files only, the computer program presenting only the image file,and the computer ignoring the non-image file portion of the combinedimage and non-image data file.
 3. The method of combining an image filewith a non-image file of claim 1 further comprising the steps of readingthe combined image and non-image data file using a computer configuredto present both the image and non-image files; and presenting the imagefile and the non-image file simultaneously using the computer.
 4. Themethod of combining an image file with a non-image file of claim 1wherein the end of file marker is a hexadecimal marker.
 5. The method ofcombining an image file with a non-image file of claim 1 wherein thestep of attaching the non-image file to the image file using thecomputer comprises writing the non-image file byte by byte immediatelyafter the end-of-file marker until the non-image file is written in itsentirety.
 6. The method of combining an image file with a non-image fileof claim 1 further comprising the step of taking a photograph using adigital camera in communication with the computer, and storing thephotograph as an image file.
 7. The method of combining an image filewith a non-image file of claim 1 wherein the non-image file is an audiofile.
 8. The method of combining an image file with a non-image file ofclaim 7 further comprising the step of recording audio with an audiorecording device in communication with the computer, and storing therecorded audio as an audio data file on the computer.
 9. The method ofcombining an image file with a non-image file of claim 1 wherein thenon-image file is a text file.
 10. The method of combining an image filewith a non-image file of claim 1 wherein the computer is a smart phone.11. The method of combining an image file with a non-image file of claim1 further comprising the step of combining a first non-image file and asecond non-image file together forming a data file container, the datafile container being the non-image file to be combined with the imagefile.
 12. The method of combining an image file with a non-image file ofclaim 1 further comprising the step of transferring the combined imageand non-image data file to a second computer.
 13. The method ofcombining an image file with a non-image file of claim 12 furthercomprising the steps of: receiving the combined image and non-image datafile by the second computer; and presenting the image file and non-imagefile simultaneously using the second computer, the second computer beingprogrammed to read both the image file and non-image file of thecombined image and non-image file.
 14. The method of combining an imagefile with a non-image file of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:receiving the combined image and non-image data file by the secondcomputer; separating the combined image and non-image data file into animage file and non-image file using the second computer; saving theimage file to a file system of the second computer; and saving thenon-image file to the file system of the second computer; and presentingthe image file and non-image file using the second computer.
 15. Amethod of presenting a combined image and non-image data file comprisingthe steps of: receiving a combined image and non-image data file by acomputer, the data file having a quantity of image data, and a quantityof non-image data, the non-image data being written to the fileimmediately after an end-of-file marker of the image data; reading thecombined image and non-image data file by the computer to identify theimage file portion, the reading being performed byte by byte starting ata beginning of the file and ending at the end-of-file marker of theimage file; the quantity read from beginning to the end-of-file markerbeing the image file; reading the combined image and non-image data fileby the computer to identify the non-image file portion, the readingbeing performed byte by byte starting immediately after the end-of-filemarker of the image file, and ending at an end of the combined image andnon-image data file; presenting the image file using a display of thecomputer; presenting the non-image file using the computer.
 16. Themethod of presenting a combined image and non-image data file of claim15 wherein the non-image file is a data file container comprising afirst data file and a second data file, further comprising the steps of:separating the non-image file into the first data file and the seconddata file using the computer; presenting the first data file using thecomputer; and presenting the second data file using the computer. 17.The method of presenting a combined image and non-image data file ofclaim 15 wherein the non-image file is an audio file, and wherein thestep of presenting the non-image file using the computer comprisesplaying the audio file through a speaker in communication with thecomputer.
 18. A method of separating a combined image and non-image datafile comprising the steps of: receiving a combined image and non-imagedata file by a computer, the data file having a quantity of image data,and a quantity of non-image data, the non-image data being written tothe file immediately after an end-of-file marker of the image data;reading the combined image and non-image data file by the computer toidentify the image file portion, the reading being performed byte bybyte starting at a beginning of the file and ending at the end-of-filemarker of the image file; the quantity read from beginning to theend-of-file marker being identified by the computer as the image file;saving the read and identified image file data as an image file usingthe computer on a file system of the computer; reading the combinedimage and non-image data file by the computer to identify the non-imagefile portion, the reading being performed byte by byte startingimmediately after the end-of-file marker of the image file, and endingat an end of the combined image and non-image data file; saving the readand identified non-image file data using the computer on a file systemof the computer.
 19. The method of separating a combined image andnon-image data file of claim 18 wherein the non-image file is a datafile container comprising a first data file and a second data file, andcomprising the steps of: separating the non-image file into the firstdata file and the second data file using the computer; saving the firstdata file using the computer on the file system of the computer; andsaving the second data file using the computer on the file system of thecomputer.
 20. The method of separating a combined image and non-imagedata file of claim 18 wherein the non-image file is an audio file, andwherein the step of saving the read and identified non-image file datacomprises saving the non-image file data as an audio file using thecomputer on the file system of the computer.